The first commando to hit the ground during Israel’s audacious hostage rescue in Entebbe, Uganda, in 1976 says the new movie about the operation comes close to depicting its lightning speed, but misrepresents Israelis as brutal thieves of Palestinian land.

Retired Major General Doron Almog was the IDF commander who landed on the Ugandan airfield and led the charge to the control tower.

“As I see it, this is the story from the terrorists’ perspective,” he said at a special screening of 7 Days in Entebbe, which was hosted by Jewish National Fund Montreal on March 19.

“On Nov. 29, 1947, the day the United Nations partitioned Palestine, my parents, who were born in Palestine, danced in the streets, as did the other 600,000 Jews there. They welcomed two states. My parents’ generation stretched out their hand for peace with the Palestinians, but they refused,” he said.

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7 Days in Entebbe, which opened in theatres on March 16, is directed by Brazilian José Padilha, who said that the movie was “inspired” by actual events.

But the tone is set with the introduction, which says that the Palestinians took up arms to get “their” land back and that left-wing groups around the world joined them.

They call themselves “freedom fighters,” while the Israelis call them “terrorists,” viewers are told.

However, the depiction of the behind-the-scenes conflict and soul-searching among the Israeli cabinet does ring true to Almog. Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin, Defence Minister Shimon Peres and Chief of Staff Motta Gur grapple over whether Israel should abandon its policy of not negotiating with terrorists.

The tension becomes excruciating as Operation Thunderbolt is given the green light, despite lingering doubts.

That equivocation meant that the IDF had only 24 hours to prepare, Almog said. The military brass hesitated to assign him to such a dangerous mission, as his brother had been killed in the Yom Kippur War and his family was already bereaved.

But Almog said his parents insisted he go for the sake of the nation’s survival.

Almog said that the terrorists made a mistake in releasing the non-Israeli passengers on the Air France flight three days earlier, as Israel was able to gain intelligence from them. That was not otherwise possible with Entebbe located 4,000 kilometres away from Israel, in the heart of Africa.

My parents’ generation stretched out their hand for peace with the Palestinians, but they refused.
– Doron Almog

The whole operation was over in less two minutes, Almog said. Four hostages died and over 100 were freed. All the terrorists were killed and one Israeli soldier, Yonatan Netanyahu, the current prime minister’s brother, lost his life, as well.

Entebbe veterans and former hostages still meet near Netanyahu’s grave on the anniversary, he said.

“One thing the film doesn’t show is that gasoline was leaking from the Mercedes, because of the bumpy, low-altitude flight,” said Almog. “We used chewing gum to stop it.” That limo, disguised as the one used by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, was a key element of the surprise attack.

Almog’s 34-year military career, which was filled with numerous other daring missions, made him a national hero. But he downplays it all compared to the cause to which he has been devoted since he retired in 2003 – helping Israelis with intellectual disabilities.

His and his wife Didi’s lives change irrevocably when their second son, Eran, was born with autism and developmental delays so extreme that he never uttered a word in his short life.

They founded the residential and rehabilitation village ALEH Negev-Nahalat Eran in 2003, which is billed as a “paradise” for the most severely disabled. His son lived there until his death at age 23 in 2007.

Almog said his goal has been to eliminate the shame and denial that is exceptionally strong in Israeli society. Traditionally, families have placed disabled children in institutions, often outside the country, and never spoken about them, he said.

One of his most respected commanders, Gen. Yigal Allon, sent his daughter to Scotland and visited her once a year, Almog said. Likewise, Prime Minister Golda Meir had a granddaughter with Down syndrome, whose existence was never mentioned, he said.

“It’s as if they don’t fit the heroic image of the sabra who defends the country or can win a Nobel Prize,” he said.

“Although he never even called me abba, Eran was my greatest teacher.… He taught me that the highest decoration you can be awarded is the title of human being, and we all deserve love.”

In 2016, Almog was awarded the Israel Prize, the country’s highest civilian honour, for lifetime achievement and contribution to Israeli society. He cherishes the prize as much as the raft of decorations he received for military heroism.